a letter to avery | 16 months

16 months old

With the chaos that is my life these days, I am very much aware that most days, when I try to think back on them, are a blur. After the arrival of Emery, life became very different for us. I am so scared that I will look back one day and not remember the little things that my biggest girl does that have touched my heart so much. It's the little things that will bring a smile to my face so I want to write them down as often as I can.

here is a glimpse into our life with you, bird!

You get your diaper changed first thing and is immediately touching your paci to let me know you are hungry. This is something that we have found so adorable! We love that you do this! In part because it is so cute, but also because you are able to let me know a need of yours. Sometimes you bang your paci so hard which is so funny! Once we get downstairs, you immediately want to check on Emery. You start saying baby (which sounds an awful lot like dada) and will walk over to with your (middle) finger in the air. After you check on Emery, we walk into the kitchen where I get you breakfast and fill up your cup. Your favorite breakfast is pancakes, bananas, or muffins. You will sit at your minnie mouse table for a little while, but then you love to wander around the house.

One of the first things you play with is your books. You love to sit in our laps and be read to! You usually don't let us finish the first page before you are grabbing the books and trying to turn the pages though. You don't have much of an attention span so once you are done looking at your book, off you go. You literally will have your hands on everything in our living room in the first hour you are awake. You are such a busy body and you absolutely love to climb on things....the coffee table, the couch, the toy box, and your chairs at your minnie table. You sure keep us on our toes!

You love to pull things out of drawers and cabinets and if I even try to pick up the mess you make, it immediately draws your attention to what I'm doing and you will start pulling everything out again! You also do this if I try to put up your clothes in your drawers so I get to do everything twice! :) You will also unload the dishwasher as I am loading it or drag the clothes out of the dryer as I put them in. So, our house is constantly a mess because there is no sense in picking up constantly...but I'm sure our friends and family are pretty used to this by now!

You love to blow kisses to people and make the "muuuu ah" sound! You also has the most precious wave! You dance to any music you hear...like the music on jeopardy. You love to play with your baby doll! Your favorite baby doll allows you to put a bottle in it's mouth so you will walk over to your baby couch to sit and feed the baby.  You are also starting to cover the baby up and rock her which I find so cute because you have picked up on me doing that with Emery.

You love to be outside and go "bye-bye." If you see someone go outside, you will have have a melt down if you aren't able to go outside, too. You put your shoes and jacket on with no problems because you know that means you get to go outside. One of your favorite things to do is swing! You would swing the entire day if I would let you, I'm sure of it.

You still hate to have your diaper changed and you hate to get dressed. This is a major struggle for us! You would think you would eventually get used to something that happens multiple times a day, but its a struggle almost every time. You still love bath time and find it very exciting that Emery gets to take a bath with you. You have started washing her feet for me which you love to do. You also have started touching her belly button.

You love to put things around your neck..especially my purse. You love to put things that have a handle on your arm like it is a purse and the funny thing is, is that you will immediately start waving. While doing this, you also like to grab as much stuff as you can in your other arm. (I wonder if you see me do this?!) 

You love to look at videos on phones. Especially mine, papas, and memes...did I say you LOVE it?! You will grab my phone, cross your legs at the ankles, and start pressing your thumb against the screen. You typically mess my phone all up, call and text people, and pull up everything.

You bring so much attention when are out because you are so social! You love to wave and smile at everybody and you are usually running around stores which people seem to love. Every single time we are out in public someone comments on how big and beautiful your eyes are! When we are out at a restaurant and you decide you are done sitting in your high chair, you will start extending your arms out to everyone and anyone to get you out of the chair. We are working on having you sit for longer periods of time at the table without picking you up. Once were done with dinner and we put you on the ground, off you go in a full sprint! Man, you are fast!

When aunt ashton comes over, you get the biggest smile on your face! After you have hugged her, you immediately start pointing to the door looking for Bryson! You love you some Bryson! You will give him hugs and kisses without even asking and boy does he make you laugh! If I even mention the word ashton or bryson at home, you immediately start looking at the door!

We recently had your 15 month check up and you weigh 22 pounds and 7 ounces and are 31.5 inches long! You are in the 66% for weight and in the 78% for height! The doctor calls you her favorite patient because you literally sit so still for her with the biggest smile on your face as she listens to your lungs and heart and looks in your ears. As soon as she puts her stethoscope down, you will grab it and put it up to your chest! (maybe someone will be a nurse like her momma!) She comments on how smart you are, too! Of course we think so! :)

You have 4 teeth (finally!) You have the top two and the bottom two! You look so darn cute with your top teeth coming in! You didn't get your first tooth until you were 11 months and now it seems like they are all wanting to come in at once! You have 3 more teeth that we can see that are about to break through any minute.

When we talk to you or ask you questions, most of the time, your response is "hmmm?" It is so cute! You talk all day long, but its just jibber jabber! You say about 5- 7 words consistently and the word we hear 90% of the time is dada!

I want to make sure I tell you how great you are doing being a big sister. You love to touch her feet and her hair. If she has a blanket over her, you usually will try to uncover her, but if the blanket is already on the floor, you will want to cover her back up. If Emery makes a noise you get so tickled and start laughing. You love to watch every time I change Emery's diaper and you love to bring me a diaper for her! You give it to me and start clapping! I think you get more smiles from Emery than anyone! You will hug and kiss Emery without ever being asked and you love to make her swing rock. For the most part, you are used to Emery being around now so you leave her in peace (most of the time).

You are so precious to us, Avery Claire! You have changed our world so much and you make every day so much better and so much fun! You are a handful bird, but I wouldn't have it any other way! The pure joy I feel when I look at you is indescribable! I can't believe you are already 16 months old!
We love you so much baby!

a letter to avery | ONE!

Our precious Avery! 

I cannot believe that you are already ONE! It seems like just yesterday that we were bringing you home from the hospital!
You are 21 pounds and 29 inches long. You finally got a tooth after your turned 11 months so you officially had one tooth when you turned one! 

You are walking so good and love to hold your hand out so we can hold your hand. You will wear shoes most of the time but as soon as we put you in your carseat you will pull the shoes off. 

You have developed such a personality. You love to smile and wave at everyone. Your smile, with your crinkled up nose, is THE cutest thing! You also give hugs now and you especially love to give your cousin Bryson hugs!

Words you can say: MaMa, DaDa, Bye-Bye, No-No

You eat so, so good! You especially love anything that you can pick up and eat. You are officially off of the bottle and doing so good with your sippy cups. You are such a big girl!

We love you so much. This past year was by far the best year of my life. You have brought so much joy to mommy and daddy and we are so thankful for you sweet girl.

a letter to avery | eleven months

Happy 11 months sweet Avery!

Nothing in this world will ever compete with your smile! You have THE sweetest, TOOTHLESS smile! Ah, it melts us! 

You are officially taking steps now! I can't believe it! You are up to 6 steps before you fall down and getting more steady every time you stand up to walk.

We are working on keeping socks and shoes on, but it isn't going too well. You LOVE pulling your socks off and chewing on them so it seems like it will be a long process.

Mommy and daddy are getting things together for your FIRST birthday next month! We are so excited to celebrate you turning ONE! 

We took you to Boo in the Zoo for the first time with your best friend Kinsley and cousin Bryson and you had so much fun! Not to mention, you were the cutest owl there ever was!

You still love to eat and having no teeth hasn't slowed you down one bit! When we try to feed you food with a spoon, you will immediately bring your hand up to your mouth so you can touch the food for yourself. It is so cute!

I can't believe this time last year I was a few short weeks away from having you! I honestly cannot imagine my life without you. You are my world and I thank God every single day for giving me you!

 I love you so much!

a letter to avery | 10 months

I can't believe you are 10 months old my sweet girl!  We have officially started planning your FIRST birthday party and I just can't believe it! You are such a fun, loving, beautiful little girl! Your laugh and smile are absolutely my most favorite things in this world and i cannot imagine a single second without you. Watching you grow and learn new things brings me so much joy! 

We love you so much!

milestones:

you are standing up by yourself

you are clapping 

you are waving bye-bye

you say "da-da" now...ALL the time

eating all table food with just 3 bottles a day

learned how to play peek-a-boo (thank you ashton!)

Your favorite foods:

green beans

mac and cheese

PP&J

You hate:

getting dressed

having things taken away from you

diaper changes

getting dropped off at daycare

having your nose wiped

you love:

playing with keys

playing with your cousins

being held

being outside

swinging

playing with daddy

cuddling

climbing on the stairs

a letter to avery | 9 months old

Our sweet, sweet Avery! My how time is just flying right before our eyes. You are officially 9 months old now! You are 18lbs and 14oz and 28 inches long and you are 1 oz away for tripling your birth weight. I cannot even believe that you have been here with us for 9 months already. You are such a joy to us and I thank God every single day that I get to be your mom.

You love walking with your walker! You crawl over to it, pull yourself up, get the biggest open mouth smile on your face, and start moving those little legs...but not before looking around to see who's looking at you! You love to pull yourself up on anything and everything and as soon as you get your little hands on something, it is going straight to your mouth. 

You give the best, wettest, open mouth kisses! Theres no way i will ever be able to get enough of those! You still don't have teeth and the doctor said she doesn't see any yet. MeMe said that I didn't get teeth until I was 14 months old, so you make get your teeth late like your momma!

You love playing with your big kid cousins! You would let them carry you around all day if they would. They really love playing with you and you just laugh and smile at them because you love playing with them, too! Anytime Bryson starts running around you giggle so much! Every time they hold their hands out to hold you, you gladly go to them. I love seeing you with them because you are always extra happy when they are around.

You are holding your bottle all the time now and you are probably only eating about 3 bottles a day now. You have officially started table food and oh my goodness girl do you love it! You have loved everything we have given you so far and we absolutely love watching you eat and try new things!

You still love bath time! To this day you have only cried once in the bathtub which is pretty impressive! You love all of your bath toys and you especially love chewing on the wet washcloth! You love to splash the water with your washcloth and you laugh every time you do it! You also will never let go of your washcloth when I get you out so it always makes a trip to your changing table when you get in your PJs.

You are getting a little attitude about you. If we take things away from you or you run out of food, you get mad and start screaming.  It is so funny, but I hope this attitude of yours doesn't get any worse! ;)

You are officially in your big girl car seat! You didn't care for it too much at first, but you have gotten used to it now, thankfully! When I get you in it, you always looks around to the driver seat to see where your daddy is and when I get you out, you always looks around me to see where your daddy is. You sure love your daddy!! When we lay you in the bed to put you to sleep, you always curl up with your daddy! It is so cute, but your mommy sure would like to cuddle with you! :)

We found out this month that you are going to be getting a little sister! I hope y'all are as close as me and your aunt ashton are! I can't wait to see y'all grow up together and be the best buds! I just hope she doesn't mind wearing all of your clothes! :)

Words can't quite express how much we love you sweet girl. You are our biggest blessing and our lives are so much sweeter with you in it. I can't wait to keep watching you grow.

a letter to avery | 8 months old

Oh my sweet girl you are growing so fast! It seems like just yesterday you were mommy's tiny little baby! You were 18lbs and 3 oz at your doctors appointment last week! 

You love to crawl around and get your hands on anything that you can see. You love to walk (with assistance) and you would rather stand instead of sit. You will actually fight us when we try to sit you down sometimes. You are also pulling yourself to stand whenever you can. It won't be long until you are standing all by yourself! You are still putting everything in your mouth! You love to eat your baby food, but you are starting to get interested in the food we eat! We haven't started table food yet, but I know you will love it! Stage 3 baby foods are confusing you with the texture (you threw up when you ate it for the first time) but you will soon love them too, I hope!

The mornings are still your favorite time of day! After your bottle, I'll take you downstairs and let you play with your toys and you are so content playing. You will squeal and just talk and talk. Once you notice that I am walking around in the kitchen, you always follow me.

You are the happiest girl! You are always smiling and laughing...especially when you see your daddy! You always have your mouth wide open so we are still calling you "little bird." 

You have discovered puffs and you absolutely love them! You seem to love the fact that you can grab them with your fingers and put them in your mouth and eat them. We had to give them to you in pieces at first, but you are a pro with the whole puff now! 

I have been trying to teach you how to wave and you have actually done it a few times. Most of the time you just stare at me like I'm crazy when I wave to you. You will also kiss us! I'll say "give mommy a kiss" and you, with your mouth wide open, lean into my lips! It is the cutest thing!! I love slobbery kisses from my girl!

You are sleeping through the night still and taking about 3 naps a day.  You are still in size 3 diapers and you are wearing some 6 month clothes but mostly 9 months clothes. You still have no teeth! Your hair is still dirty blonde and your eyes are still blue! You are wearing bows in your hair now! Yay! You are the most beautiful thing in this world!

You celebrated your first 4th of July this month with your cousins and friends. We also found out that you will have another girl cousin! I know y'all will be the best buds like me and her momma are!

You are so, so loved my precious Avery! I will never be able to truly express to you how much we love you and how much of a true blessing you have been to us. You are mommy and daddy's world!

a letter to avery | seven months old

Well, little bird, you are officially seven months old!

 This post is a little late because we ventured off to Myrtle Beach last week for our family vacation, but better late than never. :)

You loved it, just like I thought you would! Of course, you napped and ate more than usual (which is about right for vacation) and you loved the water and you especially liked the lazy river. Your cousins loved on you all week. I think they really enjoyed getting to spend 24/7 with you. You were our little 7:00 am alarm clock all week and loved to wake us up by saying "ahh" over and over until we woke up, too. You, my little one, are the most precious thing in this world. Vacation with you was a little challenging, but so much fun! We can say that you have officially put your little feet in the Atlantic ocean now! 

We took you to Family Kingdom and you rode the train with your cousins and daddy. You saw fireworks for the first time and you actually didn't cry! We were super surprised about that because loud noises really seem to scare you! You went to Medieval times and really seemed to like it, for the most part.

I signed you up for a class at The Little Gym for the summer and you absolutely love it! You get to play on balance beams and crawl around on mats. You see bubbles every time we go and those are your favorite thing ever! You get to play with balls and do fun flips. You smile so much when we go! And, you get to do it with some cute baby friends who you love to smile at!

You are starting to crawl and pull up by yourself. You are seriously on the move! You are everywhere now and into everything. You are starting to lean/reach for people when you want them to pick you up or hold you and oh my goodness, it is the cutest thing! You still don't have any teeth, but I think they will be coming soon. < I think I say that every month. :) Your eyes are still blue and your hair is still dirty blonde. You are still in 6 months clothes, but can wear a few 9 month outfits and you are in size 3 diapers. You are taking about 2-3 naps a day and you are sleeping about 9-10 hours at night now! Yay! You are still loving your baby food and you are finally starting to hold your own bottles...well halfway through haha and you love your sippy cups!

You are so full of life! Your smile literally lights up a room. There is absolutely no way to not smile back at you when you get a glimpse of your smile. Your Papa says that even when it is 6:00 in the morning, (which is when I drop you off with Ashton before daycare) you still can make him smile!

We announced to the world that you are going to be a BIG SISTER! I know you have no idea what is in store for you and our little family yet, but I am so excited to see you as a big sister! You will never know life without this new little one and I hope that y'all are the best buddies!

Oh, sweet thing you are the light of our lives. I give you so many kisses and tell you I love you multiple times a day because I want you to know just how loved you are. Some days I still can't believe that I get to be your mom! You are such a joy to us and I have loved every single second of the last 7 months and I can't wait to see what the future has in store for you! 

Keep growing big and strong precious girl!

Mommy and Daddy love you so much!

a letter to avery | 6 months old

You are 16 pounds and 13 ounces and are 27 inches long. You are back up to the 89th percentile for height! You are getting so big!

You love for us to stand you up on your legs so you can look around. You stomp those legs and move around so much! Its hard to hold you standing on your legs for long! You are making all sorts of little sounds now and oh my gosh I just love to hear them. You love to put your lips together and say "Mmmmm" the most and let me tell you, It. is. so. cute. You are also getting really high pitched in your sounds, but you also have really delicate sounds. We think you are going to be quite the talker (like your momma!) You have found your tounge so you will make the wet sound with it and of course it causes you to drool all over the place.

I love to watch you play. I will lay you down on your back and you will immediately roll to your belly and search for something you can touch. Its usually your crinkle book or your light up turtle and you always put whatever is in your hand in your mouth. You are starting to get up on your knees and hands and you rock. You are so close to crawling! You also love to put your arms straight out and kick your legs so fast! It is so cute! It looks like you are either trying to swim or fly!

You are sitting up all by yourself! Such a big milestone! :) The doctor was even surprised when we told her! It took a lot of practice and a lot of falling over, but you have mastered it!

It's becoming harder to put your diapers on because you love to roll onto your belly and you still hate to get dressed. You are definitely teething because you are chewing on absolutely everything! I look into your mouth every day just to see if anything has poked through yet. When we try to get you to open your mouth, most of the time, you just try to lick our fingers!

You are the smiling-est baby! Your teachers at daycare call you "smiley" because you are just so happy! That smile...oh my goodness it melts us! You will be playing and then your eyes will catch ours and you will break out into the biggest grin! You will pretty much smile at anyone that pays you attention!

We took you to the pool for the first time this past weekend and you loved it! You floated around for an hour and half with your paci in your mouth and you just kicked your little legs. I can't wait for many more pool days this summer with you!

Your eyes are still blue and your hair is still dirty blonde and you still have the cutest cheeks! Oh, I love to kiss them! I quite possibly kiss you over a hundred times a day and I'm pretty sure you are going to think your name is "i love you" because I tell you so much!

We are thankful for every single day we get to be your parents and we can't wait to keep watching you grow sweet girl!

bring on summertime!

a letter to avery | five months

Are you REALLY already 5 months old baby? I cannot believe you have already been here with us for 5 months! They have been some of the best months of our lives and goodness gracious do we love you to pieces. You have changed our lives little bird and we wouldn't have it any other way! You bring us so much joy its ridiculous!

You have officially eaten solid food! You have had rice cereal, sweet potatoes, green beans and carrots! So far, you have loved everything we have given you! You were a little confused at first and you didn't really know what to do with the spoon in your mouth, but you have definitely gotten the hang of it. I absolutely love giving you baby food! I love how cute your little face looks with baby food all over it and I love that you can't seem to eat it fast enough, piggy!

You have now rolled over from your tummy to your back (although your aunt Ashton is the only one who has seen it!) We still can't keep you on your back because you are always rolling over. (and you spit up so much when you are on your belly!)
 You are trying your hardest to crawl. I imagine it wont be long! You also love to grab those little feet and put them in your mouth. You are starting to "walk" in your baby walker when you're on a hard surface. You love to chew on the wheel that is on it and you will keep you arms straight out. You are starting to pick up objects with your hands and of course you bring them straight to your mouth. You can also sit up when your arms are out in front of you. You are growing so fast!

We think we will be seeing little teeth soon! You have your little hands in your mouth pretty much at all times and when I give you your cold teething rings, you love to keep them in your mouth. You also love to grab our hands and gnaw on them!

You still make that squeaky/sucking in out and it is so adorable. It is my absolute favorite sound I have ever heard. It makes everyone smile when they hear it!

We think your eyes are slowly turning brown! Time will tell, but we see specks of brown appearing in certain light! But, as of right now, your eyes are still blue and your hair is dirty blonde! You are still in 6 month clothes and size 2 diapers. We are so happy the weather is getting warmer so you can get good use out of your summer 6 month clothes.

.

You love:

looking at your daddy (you can't look at him without smiling!)

smiling at everyone that talks to you

grabbing your feet and putting them in your mouth

 to be in your walker
mornings

chewing on your hands at all times

 to roll over on your belly

  "talking" really loud
cuddling

all veggies we have given you
your paci when you are sleepy

watching your cousins play baseball
watching TV
when your cousins talk to you

You hate:
to have your clothes changed
to have your nose wiped or sucked out
to be hungry
to be on your belly too long

a letter to avery | 4 months old

You weighed 14 pounds & 6 ounces when I took you to the doctor this week (you had your first ear infection and first cough, poor thing)! You are getting so big! You are wearing 3-6 month clothes and are still in size 2 diapers. It was really bittersweet for me when I packed away your 3 month clothes, but I am so happy you are healthy and growing like you should!

After all those days of trying, you have officially rolled over! You rolled over from your back to your tummy! I made such a big deal about it that you were really excited. Anytime we lay you down now, you will roll over or scoot your body all around the mat. You are quite the wiggle worm...we find you upside down in the mornings a lot of the time. You spit up just about every time you roll over now so we spend lots of time cleaning you up. You will literally only spend 2 minutes max on your back before you are on your belly now. And, I swear you are already trying to crawl. You just aren't content staying still anymore! I don't know what it is, but there is just something about seeing you on your belly with your head popped up that makes me feel SO full of joy! I can't even explain the feeling I get every time I see you like that! I. just. love. it.

You are holding your head up all the time now and you can bear weight on your legs. You can actually walk on the floor when we stand you up. It is so cute! I can't believe how strong you are! You have found your feet so you love to reach for them. You also love to grab things in your hands...especially my hair! You love to rub your little feet together (like your momma does) and you love to bring those hands together.

Everyone thinks you are the prettiest baby and I honestly think you have started to recognize the word "pretty" because you start to smile so big when someone says that to you. It's really funny! Your aunt Ashton has started calling you "pretty" instead of Avery which you love. We get stopped all the time by strangers telling us how beautiful you are. It is so sweet when people do that...probably because I'm also one of those people who tell strangers how pretty their babies are!
But, of course, we think you are the cutest and prettiest baby in the world! :)

I am really looking forward to summertime with you! We can't wait to take you swimming and to the beach. You are going to look so cute in your bathing suits this summer and I already know you are going to love the pool so much! It's starting to get warmer out and we have started taking you to watch your cousins play baseball at the park and you absolutely love to watch them. Probably because there is a lot going on and you are still so nosy!

When you are eating or are getting sleepy, you bring your hands over your eyes. Sometimes it's hard to get a bottle in your mouth because your hands are in our way. You also love to have your hand in your mouth pretty much at all times. You love to sleep on your side sometimes and I think it is the cutest thing. You will stop on your side to sleep for a little while and then you will roll completely over to your belly and sleep that way. You still only will take your paci if you are getting hungry or tired and you love to forcefully spit it out if you don't want it.

You are such a happy baby and you are always smiling. Your teachers at "school" say you are the happiest baby and they love when you are there! You are starting to giggle now and you love when I put my hair in your face. Every single time you look at your daddy, you smile. You really love him, little bird and he sure loves you. You make the cutest little sound when you get excited. I don't know how to explain it other than it's a "sucking in" sound. It is just precious. You start to kick and move those arms back and forth and start making the "sucking in "sound and I can't help but laugh! You have THE sweetest smile I've ever seen. It is so contagious! Your eyes light up every time you smile.

You still love bath time and you still love to watch TV. You will twist your body all around just so you can watch it. I have started to take baths with you and man oh man do I love that...and you seem to love it, too!

You have slept through the night (8 WHOLE HOURS!) for about a week and a half now! What a treat that has been! Mornings are our special time together. I love to lay you down on our bed to look at you and talk to you and you just talk and talk back to me, but as soon as you spot a light that's where your attention goes.

Oh my goodness we just love you so much! You are the most precious thing to us baby! We always just randomly say to each other "I just love her." You have just been the biggest blessing to us and by far the biggest bright spot in our lives. It's hard to remember how we spent our days before you because we can't imagine doing anything else except wanting to spend every minute with you.

You are so, so loved baby girl.

this how the majority of the pictures turned out. she tried to get that sticker in her mouth so many times.

a letter to avery | 3 months old

 



3 months little bird?! Already? Where is the time going!

I hate to say it, but you may already know that you have mommy and daddy wrapped around your little finger! You love to be held and walked around to look at stuff. You are a nosy little thing! You start to cry if it's too dark and you can't see, so we have to ride with the lights on in the car for you. You love to be held facing out so you can check everyone out. You also really like to watch TV. You will strain your neck just to look at it!

You are so happy in the mornings. Your awake time starts around 8/9 & as soon as you get your breakfast you are so happy! I like to lay you in our bed after your morning feeding and you coo and kick and smile at us. You also turn your head from side to side because you want to look at the bathroom light and the sunlight. (You love lights) When we turn the lights out, your eyes get SO big! It's really cute! When your daddy works night shift and you haven't seen him in 13 hours, you love to talk to him. It's like you think seeing him again is the grandest thing in the world! You just talk and talk and talk to him and you get really loud! He loves it!

You are still in 3 month clothes and size one diapers, but some of your footed pj's are getting too small because of those long legs. I had to take you to the doctor this month to have you evaluated for reflux and you are 12 pounds and 14.5 ounces. A 1/2 ounce more and you would have officially doubled your birth weight! You are growing so much baby girl! I can't believe my little 6 pound 15 ounce baby is already 12 pounds (probably 13 as I write this!)

Your sleep smiles and laughs seriously are the cutest thing I've ever seen. Every single time you smile or laugh in your sleep I smile so big. I wonder what you are dreaming about?! You still are the best cuddler and you are the happiest when you are up against our chests. I think I could literally stay cuddled up with you like that forever and be completely content.

You smile so much! When you smile it's like your eyes just light up. I love that sweet smile of yours! All we have to do is say "hey" and you just start grinning. You are so happy!

You still love bath time. You always tend to spit up as soon as I get your PJs on though. I always have to wash your hair when you spend time with your cousin Bryson because he loves to give your chocolatey kisses on your head.

You are drooling so much! You pretty much have to wear a bib at all times or I end up changing your clothes at least 3 times a day. I thought you were teething, but I've read that around this time is when babies start making more saliva than they can swallow. You love to suck on your hand, but you still aren't a good paci sucker. You only take your paci if you are getting hungry or when it's time for you to sleep. You haven't rolled over yet, but you do get on your side pretty good. You have mastered getting your head over and your upper body over. I love to just talk to you about stuff and you "talk" right back to me. I love it. You are starting to grab onto things and of course you take them right to your mouth.

When you haven't had enough to eat, you start to squeal and me and your daddy think it is the funniest thing! As soon as we hear it, we know that you are still "starving!" You have slept one 7 hour stretch, but you mostly sleep 5 hour stretches at nighttime. After your feeding, you go right back to sleep which is wonderful.

We took our first family vacation with you to Gatlinburg. You got to go through North Carolina and visit Tennessee. You were an awesome car rider which I was pleasantly surprised about. I tell you all the time that you better go ahead and get used to your car seat because there will be lots of traveling in your future...you must have heard me!

You have started going to daycare two days a week. My 12 week maternity leave was up on February 6th. I will forever be grateful that I got to take 12 weeks to stay home with you and not miss anything of your first 3 months of life. What an incredible, life changing 3 months that was. It was honestly the best 3 months of my life. I hope that you make so many friends going to daycare and that you learn to share and how special and fun friends are. I know that I will learn that time spent with you is truly so precious and to not take a second with you for granted. I love being a nurse though, little bird, and it's what God wants me to do.  I will always hate leaving you and I will always think of you constantly while I am away. But, please always know that I love you more than anything and that I am doing what I have to do for you and our family. Your daddy and I want you to have the best life we can give you and that means that we have to leave you for a little while to go to work, but we will always be there to pick you up when our work day is done.

I am so full of joy these days all because of you. I feel so happy and fulfilled being your mom. I never knew that being a mother could be so wonderful. Your daddy and I love you so much and we will do anything in this world for you. You are so, so loved little bird! What did we all do without you?! I honestly cannot remember how I spent my time before you. You are the most incredible, amazing blessing to us baby!

2 months old

6 weeks old

3 weeks old

A letter to Avery | 2 months old

Well, little bird, you are 2 months old! I can't believe it! Where is the time going?! It seems like yesterday that we were in the hospital getting ready to meet you!

My baby girl is getting so big. You are 11 pounds and 11 ounces and 23 and 3/4 inches. You are in the 96th percentile for height and 66th percentile for weight! It seems like you may be taking after your daddy in the height department. :) You had to get 2 shots and I cried like a baby when you started crying! The doctor said you are doing so good and are right on track! She also said you have awesome head control and that it is unusual for a 2 month old to have head control as good as you.

We think your eyes are going to stay blue because they seem to be getting bluer every day. Your hair is still dirty blonde and your eyelashes are getting longer and darker. You have the sweetest little face and I can't get enough of it.  Just looking at your face makes everything a whole lot brighter.

After you eat, one of my favorite things to do is to put you up on my shoulder so I can burp you, and I absolutely love feeling your cheek against mine. After your belly is full, you mash your lips together like a duck. It is the cutest face! You also make that face when you stretch! You also have the cutest "milk drunk" face after you eat.

You are starting to smile a lot more now. Your daddy and I make all sorts of funny sounds to get you to smile! You have the sweetest smile and I just can't get enough of it. You start to get excited when we talk to you and start to smile, kick those legs and squeal! We love that, that is your reaction to us, little bird! 

You are the best snuggler! I love to hold you against me and just snuggle away. I'll miss those sweet snuggles one day so I am soaking them up while I can.

You love to lay on your play mat and look at lights and kick your little legs. You don't enjoy tummy time too much yet, but you love to lay on our chests and lift your head up. Of course, we always have a huge spot of your saliva on us because you love to lick us when you are on our chests. :) You lift your head up longer and longer every day! Before we know it you will be sitting up! You especially love to look at the picture wall behind our bed and any kind of light! You are also gripping things now and tracking things with your eyes. You still get the hiccups at least once a day and you are starting to really hate them! After every hiccup, you make an irritated sound. 

I am starting to get things together to make you a shadow box of your first few days. I'm really excited to see how it turns out. I hope you like sentimental stuff like your momma! I have also made you a bow holder to go in your room to hold the tons of bows I have bought you!

You giggled for the first time when you were 7 weeks old (almost 8)! I was wiping your face with a warm washcloth and you giggled!! It was THE cutest thing I have ever heard! You are "talking" so much now and you make the sweetest little sounds!

You still love bath time!  You don't ever cry (which I still can't believe!) When I squeeze the rag out on your belly, you open your mouth to the side every time. You must love it! A few times you have been kicking your legs and one of your legs will fall in the water and you'll stop kicking and leave it there! I can't wait to get you in a pool this summer because I'm sure you will love it.

I have started to play music for you when are getting fussy and I have realized you are definitely going to love music like your mommy and daddy because you stop crying every time! You especially love Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran. You have slept a few 5 hour stretches at night now and you are eating about every 3 hours during the day. You are a really good napper so I hope that means you'll get your sleep habits from me!

Keep growing big and strong our sweet girl! This world has so much to offer you and we will be by your side, loving you, every step of the way. Being your parents have been the best thing we've ever done! Our world has been completely rocked by you, little one. What did we ever do without you in our lives?! We love you so much.

a letter to avery | 6 weeks old

6 weeks old | December 26th, 2014

Our sweet Avery! I can't believe you have already been here with us for 6 weeks! Time is flying (just like people said it would) and we wish it would slow down a little bit. I am trying to capture every single moment I can on video and my camera so I don't forget one thing about these sweet early weeks of your life. I try to cuddle with you as much as I can because I know soon you will be crawling all over the place!

You are the sweetest baby! You are starting to "talk" more and you have the sweetest little voice. You are starting to smile at us which we absolutely love and you love to look around at your surroundings...especially lights. You love to just stretch out and kick those long legs! We have so many videos of you just kicking away! One thing we have been so tickled about is that you love to turn yourself completely sideways in the snuggle nest that you sleep in. It is the funniest thing! You are also trying your best to hold your head up. Your cousin Lawson has just about mastered it, but we think because your head is bigger (72nd percentile), it is taking you a little longer!

At your one month check up, you weighed 9lbs and 1oz (37th percentile) and were 22 inches long (88th percentile). You are going to be so tall little bird!! You are starting to wear your 0-3 month clothes which is bittersweet for Momma! I may be in denial a little bit because I put a newborn onesie on you yesterday and the sleeves were 3/4 length on you. :) You are getting so big! 

Oh, we all just love you to pieces and are so thankful for you! We can't wait to keep watching you grow big and strong little bird!

A letter to Avery

To our sweet (3 week old) Avery,

You have stolen your daddy and my heart little girl. Wow, have you rocked our world! Even though you have been here for such a small amount of time, you have been such a joy to us already! My favorite part? Seeing everyone I love, love you so, so much! You are surrounded by love and I hope you always feel that.

You have the sweetest little whimper and you hardly every cry at the top of your lungs. When you do, I know you are "starvin." (That's what I always say to you when you start to eat!) You crinkle your forehead when you first start to eat. Oh, how I love when you do that! You also let your arm fall down past your side when you eat which always makes you look super relaxed. You get the hiccups a few times day which I am not surprised about at all because you got the hiccups when you were in my belly a lot! I started feeling your hiccups really early on in my pregnancy. Your hiccups are the cutest.

Your feet look like mini versions of your daddy's! So far, the only thing we can tell that you got from me is your chin and lips! (My chin is actually your PaPa's chin!) Your eyelashes are so long which I'm sure you will love one day and your legs are long, too. I think you may be tall like your daddy little girl! (He is already talking about you playing basketball)

You circle your lips into an "O" shape and sometimes stick your tongue out when you make that face. Your cousin Bryson used to make that face when he was a baby and I always thought it was SO cute so I absolutely LOVE that you are making that same face! We love to just look at you and watch you make faces. You smile a lot. Even though we know its just twitches, it is the cutest thing we have ever seen! We find ourselves hovering our phones over your face just trying to catch one.

You sleep with your mouth open like your momma and you keep your mouth open a lot in general so we have started calling you "little bird" "baby bird" and sometimes "birdie."

You love taking baths! You never cry during bath time which I was very surprised about. I hope that means you're going to love the water like me and your daddy do. After you get your hair washed it always looks super blonde. I can't believe I have a blonde haired baby!

You love to keep your right arm up right by your face just like we thought you would. Every single ultrasound that I had, your little arm was always up by your face! It was a miracle we ever got a good picture of your face on our 3D's! You also love to snuggle on me which I cant get enough of. My friends who I snapchat (I'll explain this to you one day) get pictures of both of those things all day long! I will admit I kiss you every single time I pick you up. I just love kissing that sweet face of yours.

You hate to be swaddled! We will swaddle you and look back over a minute later and you will have completely come out of it and literally be sprawled out! In the mornings I like to put you in your bouncer beside the Christmas tree so you can look at the lights and I really would like to cover you up, but you always kick the blanket off of you. Apparently your daddy did the same things when he was little! I also think it is because you were balled up in the breech position for so long that I think you are loving getting to stretch out as much as you can!

Your MeMe and PaPa light up when you are around! It has been so neat seeing my parents be grandparents to you! What a special experience that has been. I can't wait to see your relationship with them one day! You are your Pappy's 2nd girl grandchild and you can tell he loves you to pieces just like he does Hayden. You will have him wrapped around your little finger too! Fun sleepovers with Lawson and Hayden at Pappy's is definitely in your future.

Your aunt Ashton is a baby hog which we all laugh about, but she loves you little girl! Your cousin Lawson was born just 4 days after you and gosh are we so excited to see y'all grow up together! Your cousins, Hayden and Bryson, love you so much! Hayden already loves taking care of you and Bryson just loves to hold you (mostly because he doesn't want anyone else to hold you). Shawn is so good with you and Ryan hasn't quite figured you out yet. But, nonetheless, they love you too, little girl! You have so many people who love you little bird!

I want to make sure I tell you how wonderful your Daddy has been! I never knew how much I loved him until I saw how much he loves you. When you were first born, we had to feed you with a syringe and put our pinky finger in your mouth to get you to suck it down. Well, your daddy loved putting his pinky in your mouth to help feed you and to help soothe you. That's a memory I will never forget. He also has been awesome at getting up at night with you and taking turns with me. He changes your diapers like a pro and he loves getting to feed you. He will randomly say while looking at you and smiling, "I just can't get over it." He loves you, baby bird, more than your could ever imagine!

We have been so blessed beyond words with you sweet Avery! We thank God every day we get to be your parents. Its indescribable how much we love you! So, the love God must have for us...wow! We love having you here with us and we can't imagine life without you. I pray you always know how much you are loved.